TOMMY Lawson has been left gobsmacked' by Clitheroe's decision to sack him as their manager.

Lawson, who took over last summer after leaving Prescot Cables, guided the Blues to the top of UniBond Division One and to the first round of the FA Trophy for the first time.

But a recent dip in form prompted new acting chairman Carl Garner to announce the dismissal last night.

"It's crackers," said Lawson. "I didn't see it coming and I'm absolutely gobsmacked.

"I've been in the job six months and I earned the club £10,600.

"By the chairman's own admission, that proved to be the lifeblood of the club and anywhere else that would be considered success.

"It seems to be some sort of personal vendetta against me.

"I was called at 10pm on Monday night to be told about it, which was pathetic.

"And I had to go to training to tell the players myself because they should't be finding out about it by reading it in papers. It's amateurish."

Garner said in a statement: "Since November, during which time we've won only once in 10 league games, the team has slipped from championship contenders to hovering just above the relegation zone.

"We are not in a position to sustain Tommy's relatively high salary, afforded to him by the previous chairman and vice chairman, any longer.

"It was felt the time was right to take the decision, in order to give the next manager a fair and realistic chance to make his mark on the squad this season.

"After all the hard work that the committee has put in over recent weeks we were not prepared to jeopardise UniBond League football for our supporters next year."

The Blues won't be advertising the position and are already in the process of targeting a replacement for Lawson.

"We are thinking long term and we are looking to appoint a young manager with a good awareness of the Lancashire non-league scene," said Garner.

"This will be a fantastic opportunity for the right man because we will take this club forward."